Responding to a Lords Public Services Committee report on lessons learned from Covid-19, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“Councils have played a crucial role during the pandemic and have demonstrated the strength that comes from local leaders able to work with others and their communities.
“This wide-ranging, comprehensive report provides some good recommendations for how we can build upon the relationships between central and local government, to ensure our local public services are better prepared and our areas more resilient to any future health crisis.
“As the committee makes clear, the coronavirus response has proved that certain key public service functions are best delivered locally, alongside the funding and flexibilities to do so.
“Reducing health inequalities, supporting early intervention including for vulnerable children, urgent reform of adult social care, increased data sharing and greater local decision-making powers are among proposals we strongly agree with.
“The upcoming Spending Review is an ideal opportunity for government to consider how it can empower and resource councils to continue supporting their communities as they set their budgets for next year, through the rest of this crisis and beyond.”
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